Wednesday directed two expert bodies to assess any adverse
effect of expansion of a dumping ground in suburban Kanjurmarg
on a flamingo sanctuary located in the vicinity.

A division bench asked the Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS) and the National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute (NEERI) to carry out an evaluation whether
the dumping ground expansion will adversely impact the
sanctuary and submit a report after two weeks.

The court was hearing a petition filed by NGO
Vanshakti against the expansion plan of the dumping ground to
121 hectares from the present 65 hectares proposed by the
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

As per the plea, the expansion was in violation of
coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms and would cause
irreparable damage to the eco-sensitive zone of the Thane
Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.

On December 5, 2019, another HC bench had lifted a
September 19, 2019, stay on waste dumping at the site.

The order had pointed that there was a lack of space
for dumping and treating solid waste in Mumbai as the dump
yard at suburban Mulund was closed in 2018, and the
overburdened dumping ground in Deonar was also proposed to be
shut.

Vanshakti then approached the Supreme Court against
the December 2019 ruling.

Last week, the apex court referred the matter back to
the HC and directed it to reconsider the issue.